Here is my evaluation of IT tools. I have researched two student centered web sites, a CD-ROM, a teacher web site, and a laserdisc.
Zoom
Dinosaurs - from
Enchanted Learning
Zoom Dinosaurs is
a comprehensive online hypertext book about dinosaurs. The audience
can be from Pre-K on. A table of contents on the side is useful to
quickly find the desired topics, which are easily found. With
simple instructions from the teacher or guided questions, students can
find information for their research. The section on Classroom Activities
is separated into grade levels: Pre-K to 2nd, 3rd and up. There is
information and support for reports, dioramas, puzzles, and down loadable
pages for classroom activities. In the "Dinosaur Fun" category, each
student may vote for their favorite dinosaur and find a favorite joke.
This site is user friendly and students learn to use all categories quickly
after initial training.
Rating: (1 lowest,
5 highest) 4
The
Weather Dude
This is an Internet
site for kids, parents and teachers. It is suggested for elementary
students grades 3-5. This site can be used to inform students about
weather. Some interesting items are "Meteorology A-Z". It is
an explanation of meteorological related vocabulary. There is a section
about "Weather Report" where one may observe a live video display of the
weather in the area. The best portion (in my opinion) is the "Favorite
Weather" photos of all kinds of special weather such as tornadoes, hurricanes,
etc. A "Weather Quiz" can be used for higher level students to test
their knowledge. The "Bill Nye" link took too long to download on
our school computer. This site has a number of multimedia displays.
Younger students will need immediate guidance going through the different
links.
Rating: (1 lowest,
5 highest) 3
Animals and How
They Grow- CD-ROM from National Geographic Society
This CD-ROM is specifically
for Apple based systems. This CD-ROM comes in a kit that includes
the CD, 5 booklets, teacher guide, and poster. The Reading level
is primary, and appropriate for 3rd grade. The objective is to increase
basic reading concepts, comprehension, language skills, and vocabulary/grammar.
The books included are Mammals, Amphibians, Reptiles,
Birds, and Insects. All of these topics are included
in the primary science curriculum. The teacher may control the settings
for reading, i.e. the speed and whether the whole book is read a sentence
at a time or one word at a time. The lessons are adaptable into Spanish.
Students can click on the picture or words, initiating audio identification.
To use this in a classroom, one must have headphones to avoid distracting
the remainder of the classroom. This CD has good topics but fails
to maintain students attention.
Rating: (1 lowest,
5 highest) 2
Dinosaurs- Laserdisc
by the Smithsonian Laserdisc Collection
This laserdisc includes
a plethora of information about dinosaurs. Therefore, teachers must
be selective when using it. Some parts should not be used by the
lower elementary grades, but some parts do correspond directly to what
I am currently teaching. The guidebook that accompanies the laserdisc
is a necessity; one needs to know the code numbers to cue the appropriate
paragraphs. Even though a laserdisc contains much information, the
hardware is too specific and expensive to be used except when no
other means fills the bill. I have used this as a resource to our
dinosaur unit. Students need to be taught to use the remote to search
for the answers to guided questions. The system is best employed
by a team of students. After fifteen minutes the laserdisc looses
the attention of students. Because of its lack of impact and difficulty
of operation the overall usefulness will depend upon the teacher.
Rating: (1 lowest,
5 highest) 2
Puzzlemaker
- Educators
tool on the Internet
This is an easy tool
to provide a variety of puzzles to reinforce class vocabulary and concepts.
There are simple directions to follow, and it takes about 5-10 minutes
to make a crossword or other type of puzzle. Since you make the clues
or add the content, its employment may enhance the specifics of what one
teaches. Some topics include: Mazes, Word Search (for those
days with a sub?), Criss Cross Puzzles (crosswords), Number Blocks, Math
Squares, and several others. I use the Criss Cross Puzzles to stress
vocabulary in spelling, Social Studies, or any content area. The
size of the puzzles is adjustable and this site has many awards.
Rating: (1 lowest,
5 highest) 4